Policy Topics

The Education Quality Imperative

Author/s:

Eric A. Hanushek

Published Date:

2013

Publication:

The Politics of Growth, Stability and Reform

Details:

London: Policy Network and Global Progress

Pages:

121-124

Particularly in times of recession, all political attention is focused on immediate concerns of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. While these are legitimate concerns, they are frequently allowed to overshadow more significant economic issues related to long run economic wellbeing. The human capital of nations, which can be measured by the quality of education, determines the long run growth of economies. Differences in long run growth lead to much larger economic impacts than business cycle fluctuations, even of the magnitude of the 2008 recession. Economic growth also provides a solution to the current fiscal struggles. Improving human capital and increasing skills of the population demands attention to school quality, and the key element of school quality is teacher quality.